Communists and Moslems share a hatred of holy images. It is common knowledge that the beautiful ancient Catholic church of Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque, and that her beautiful mosaics on the walls and ceilings were plastered over when the Moslems invaded Constantinople in 1453. Hagia Sophia is often thought of in relation to pictures of half-restored icons (the plaster did not damage the mosaics). Thanks be to God that restoration is possible! In the wake of Communism, such restoration is not possible.
